NAPERVILLE (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Naperville has its first dispensary offering recreational pot.

Naperville Mayor Steve Chirico and business leaders attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday for Rise Naperville.

The dispensary at 1700 Quincy Avenue has been offering medical marijuana since 2016, but it has now expanded both inside and out.

“For those that have been here before it will be a pleasant surprise to see how much space we have now,” Derrick Levy, District Manager for Rise Illinois, said. “We also hired 20 new people as well to come in to help us with the influx of business.”

At the start of 2020, the City of Naperville banned recreational marijuana sales, but voters OK’d it in a March referendum.

Rise Naperville received its recreational license from Illinois regulators in January, but had to follow city ordinances.

“At the end of the day the referendum spoke and we’re happy to be here,” Levy said.

One Naperville resident and customer tells WBBM Newsradio it’s a more convenient way of shopping.
 
“I’m used to driving to Joliet to come to this place, and it’s nice that I don’t have to drive an hour,” Chris Galla said.

Profits from the first day of recreational sales will go to a nearby not-for-profit, Loaves and Fishes, which is working to end hunger and poverty in the community.